Strange Fits of Passion – Anita Shreve

Over the years I have read a large number of Anita Shreve's books and as far as I can remember I've enjoyed them all greatly. Strange Fits of Passion was no different in that sense. What was a bit different though was the style in which it was written. Rather than being a "straight story" instead the book is a collection of statements from the key people involved in the story and interview notes from the journalist who was writing about it. The final part of the book is then the final magazine article that came from all the statements and interviews. There are a few small narrative sections pulling all this together, but actually the power of having the "raw" details is something that I wasn't initially expecting.

Any book that deals with domestic violence is never going to be an emotionally easy read, but yet this was still an enjoyable read. The main characters command sympathy and understanding from very early on in the book and having a daughter roughly the same age as the main character's daughter made it particularly easy to understand what she was coping with day to day.

In summary, another excellent, if emotional read and a book that is definitely worth picking up.